Locked license tag



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5 sheets-sheet 1 f 2a 46 2Q c. L FORTINBERRY L00KED LICENSE TAG Filed sept. 24, 1954 fzmfr/ f S55-' Feb. 23, 1937.

Feb. 23, 1937.

C. L. FORTINBERRY LOCKED LICENSE TAG CHARLES L..F RT//veE/ Ry i memfwgw Filed Sept. 24, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v "11,1 lll- VIIIIIII,

Uh/ARMS L FORT/NBER Feb. 23, 19377 .i c. .'oRTlNBERRY I I 2,072,000

LOCKED LICEN/SETAG Filedsept. 24, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 4 Feb. 23, 1937. c. 1 FORTINBERRY 2,072,000 LocKED LICENISE TAG y Filed'sept. 24, 1934 l 5 sheets-sheet 5 a CHARLES L, ,FERT/NBERRY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKED LICENSE TAG Application September 24, 1934, Serial No. 745,357

Claims.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates to automobile license tags; and is in the nature of an improvement on the lock strip license tags disclosed in my 5 United States Patents No. 1,928,527, September 26, 1933, and No. 1,934,598, November '7, 1933. As in the patents aforesaid, the invention includes a method of forming automobile license tags to prevent removal thereof from their supporting 1o brackets without some indication that such removal had been attempted or eiected.

In each of the patented constructions, the tag includes an indicia strip provided with identication means, supplementing a license number l5 formed on a large plate constituting the body of the tag proper. This strip is used to cover the accessible operative ends of bolts securing the plates to the brackets with which automobiles are ordinarily provided. In each case, the patents show the tag suspended from a bracket; that is,

show the bodies of. the tags secured by their upper edges to the laterally extending arms of the brackets. This is the usual method of securing license plates to their holding brackets.

In some States, the license plates or tags are secured by their lower edges to the upper ends `of the supporting brackets. 'Ihe patented tags were, of course, not adapted to be secured to brackets of the latter type; and it therefore be- 30 came necessary to provide such brackets with extensions to form suspension supports for the patented tags.

The main object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a license tag of the lock 5;.; type which retains all the advantages of the patented tags; and which may be connected by either the top or bottom edges to either type of supporting bracket. In other words, the present form of tag may be suspended from a supporting bracket of, the common type, or may be supported by its lower edge on a stub bracket which is not so widely used.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a license tag embodying the present invention, and shown`as suspended by its upper edge from the laterally extending arms of an extension bracket;

Figure 2 is a perspective view .of a license plate forming a part oi. the tag illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, with the license plate assembled in partly locked relation to the body or the tag;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section, also .on the line 3 3, showing the license plate moved after assembly of the tag on its supporting bracket into '5 locked relation with the body of the tag;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section similar to that shown in Figure 5, but illustrating the 10 tag as secured at its lower edge to the upper end of a stub bracket; n

Figure 7 is a central section to an enlarged scale of, a bolt forming a part of the present lnvention and peculiarly adapted to co-.operate with the license plate to prevent removal of the tag as a whole from the bracket;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective of the bolt shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 illustrates a blank stamped out to provide the supporting frame for the license plate;

Figure 10 is an elevation of a tag embodying a modication of the device shown in Figure 1, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 11 is a. perspective view of the license plate forming a part of the tag shown in Figllle 10;

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on the line l2|2 of Figure 10, and showing the license plate partly inserted in its frame and in position to permit the frame to be secured to a bracket;

Figure 13 is a horizontal section taken on the same line |2-l2 of Figure 10, the license plate being shown in fully inserted and locked posi- 131011; 35

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a blank from which the frame of the modication shown in Figure 10 is stamped out;

Figure 15 is an end elevation of the device, to an enlarged scale, shown in Figure 10, and illustrating the tag as secured at its lower end to a bracket;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a blank from which the frame of another modification of the device is stamped out;

Figure 1'7 is a perspective view showing the rear of a tag including a, frame formed from the blank shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a perspective showing one ofthe indicia strips remaining after removal of the center part of the license plate shown in Figure 11; and

Figure 19 is a fragmentary section,to an enlarged scale, taken on the line |9-'I9 of Figure 10.

CAD

As shown in the drawings, the tag comprises a substantially rectangular channeled frame stamped out from a sheet I (see Figure 9), a license plate 2i), and a bolt designated generally by the reference numeral 3. The sheet I is provided with parallel creases 4 and 5 alined with the end edges 6 and '1, respectively, of flap 8 extending from Yone edge of the main body 9 of the sheet I. Flaps Ill and II extend in opposite directions from the creases 4 and 5 and are provided with creases I2 and I3, respectively, slightly spaced apart from and parallel with the creases 4 and 5. Flange members I2 and I3 extend from the outer edges of the flaps III and II, and are bent inwardly to contact with the rear face of the plate 2 when the latter is inserted in its frame.

A crease I4 is formed on the sheet I in alinement with the ends I 5 and I6 of the ilaps I 8 and I I; and a crease II is formed on the end flap 8 parallel with the crease I 4 and spaced apart therefrom at a distance equal to the distance between the creases 4 and I2 and creases .5 and I3. These aps and the creases thereon, are formed to provide a frame having channels extending around three sides of the 'license Vplate toenclose the corresponding three edges thereof.

The side aps I8 and I! are rst bent rearwardly at right angles to the plane of the main body f3. The naps are next bent about the creases I2 and .I3 to form flanges parallel with vthe main bodyS of the sheet I, and the .flange vmembers 'I2' and 13 are bent around the edge of the flaps ISU and :II. The end .flap 8 is then bent rearwardly 'about the crease I 4 and at right angles to the mainbody 9; and is next bent about the crease I 'I until its main part extends between the flaps I9 'and II and forms with these aps a closed channel at one end of the main body 8.

The sheet I is stamped out at its center to forma large .aperture or window I8, through which the license number I9, stamped on a license plate 29, is adapted to be exposed. This license number occupies the greater part of the license plate 2li; and the window I8 in the frame of the tag must be made of a corresponding size so as to expose the number fully. The opposite longitudinal edges 2l and 22 of the window I8 are stamped out to form recesses 23 and 24 through which supplemental indicia stamped on the license plate may be exposed. As shown in Figures .l and 2 of the drawings, the indicia 25 exposed in the recesses 23 and 24 is smaller than the license number and may be a classification indicia to indicate the character of the vehicle on which the tag is mounted.

Near the other end of the tag supporting frame or sheet I, the opposite edges of the window I8 are stamped out to form recesses 26 and 21 adapted vto expose year indicia 28 formed on the license plate 2I.- These recesses 26 and 2'! have their inner edges 28 and 29 coincident with the creases 4' and 5, respectively, so as to expose the opposite longitudinal edges of the license plate 2G for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. It is to -be noted that the inner edges 38 and 3I of the recesses23 and 24 are spaced vinwardly from the creases 4 and 5 so as to conceal and prevent access to the opposite longitudinal edges of the plate 28.

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 9 of the drawings, the flaps Ill and I I are provided with slots 32, 33, Se and 35 adapted to receive with snug sliding t the cylindrical extension 35 yof the nut 36 forming a part of the bolt shown in Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings. vThese cylindrical extensions 35 are internally screwthreaded to receive the screwthreaded shank 36' of the bolt 3 having a hemispherical head 3'! suitably secured to one end thereof. This hemispherical head is provided at diametrically opposite points with lugs 38 and 39 adapted to seat in slots 40 formed in the laterally `extending arms 4I and 42 of the supporting ybracket 43. This bolt v3 is a modied form of the bolt illustrated in Figure 17 of my Patent No. 1,934,598 and is designed to prevent bodily removal of the tag from the supporting bracket without mutilation of the license plate 2D.

To provide for securing the channel frame, formed by the sheet I, to the bracket 43, with the license plate and frame partly assembled, the aps I8 and II are stamped to provide spaced apart locking tabs '44 extending in the direction of the end ap 8 and inwardly of the channels formed by the flaps I0 and II. The flaps I9 and I I near the flap 8, are also provided with stop -tabs -4'5 inwardly directed in their respective channels and extending in the direction V0pposite to that of the tabs 44.

The license plate 28 is provided with rows of tabs IIS extending lengthwise thereof and positioned so as to co-operate with the tabs `44 on the channel frame 8 to lock the plate against removal Yfrom the vvframe after it has once been inserted in the channels of the frame. It will be understood, of course, that .the vtabs 46 :on the license plate 2U, must be spaced apart at the same distances from each other as the tabs 44 on the channel frame 9. The license plate 28 is also provided with four apertures 41 alined with `the rows of Atabs 46 and spaced apart so .asto expose the heads `of the :nuts 36, which are assembled in the channels between the llicense plate and the ilaps I8 and II.

As in my previous Patent No. 1,934,598, the tag is intended to be partly assembled las shown in Figure .3, of the drawings, before being turned over to the purchaser; .that is, the plate 20 is inserted just far `enough into the channels of the frame 9 to bring the apertures 47 in registry with the heads .of the nuts 36. In this position, the nuts can be turned by a narrow screw driver inserted through the apertures .41, to release the bolts 3, as a preliminary to mounting the tag as a whole on the arms 4I and 42 of the bracket support 43.

As will be apparent from Figure 3 of the drawings, the license plate 20, in the partly inserted position shown, cannot be removed from the channel frame; but can Ibe moved to the right of said position. Therefore, it is not possible for any user to remove the nut part of the bolts 3 from the partly assembled tag, since these nuts .are larger in diameter than the apertures 4l. After the tag vhas been mounted on theextension arms 4I and 42, in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the license plate 29 must vbe moved to the right until the right hand end thereof contacts with lthe stop tabs 45. In `this position only, the classification and year indicia of the plate 20 are exposed in the recesses 23 and 26 of .the channel frame. In this position, too, the tabs 46 of the license plate 28 interlock with the .tabs 44 and with the stop 45, securely locking the plate 20 to the channel frame and bracket support.

It will be evident from inspection of the drawings that the plate 28, when positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 4, cannot be removed from the channeled frame without mutilating either une frame or the plate. Whenever it becomes necessary to renew the license, the plate 20 must be removed from its frame. It cannot be so removed without breaking it.

To facilitate this breaking, as a preliminary to removal from the frame, the plate 20 is weakened by scoring it across that part which is exposed between the edges 28 and 29 of the recesses 26 and 21, respectively, when the tag is fully assembled on its bracket. This scoring 46 extends clear across the plate 28 and through the year indicia thereon. A screwdriver or similar tool can be inserted under either of the edges of the plate 20 exposed in the recesses 28 and 29, and used to break the plate along the scoring 46. The two parts of the plate can then be pulled from the channeled frame through the recesses 28 and 29.

The removal of the parts-of plate 20 will expose the heads of the nuts 36, which can then be operated to remove the channeled frame from the bracket support. Of course, a new license plate can then be inserted in the channeled frame without removing it from the support; and when fully inserted, will prevent removal of the frame without mutilation either of the frame or license plate.

Figure 6 of the drawings merely illustrates the tag as secured to a stub bracket 43. The method of assembly of the tag, and its operation, is identical with that already disclosed; except, of course, that the securing operation is effected through the lower edge of the tag instead of the upper edge. This tag construction avoids the necessity of substituting an extension bracket, such as the bracket 43, for the stub bracket 43 in those States, or on cars, where the tag is to be secured by its lower edge to its support. At the same time, it is also adapted to be just as readily secured by its upper edge to a suspension bracket, such as is in common use, or to an extension bracket of the type shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

The end iiap 8 not only serves as a stiffening member for the frame, but also serves to prevent I such bending of the license plate as might result in sliding one of the edges of the plate free of the longitudinal channels, so that the plate as a whole could be removed without mutilation. This iiap, of course, would not be necessary in cases where the tag would be mounted on an extension bracket such as is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, because the bracket itself would prevent such bending of the license plate as would permit removal of the plate from its channeled frame without mutilation.

In order to prevent rattling of the plate in the frame, it is evident that the tabs 44 and 46 should extend substantially across the frame channels as shown in Figures 3 and 4. To supplement these tabs the rear wall of the frame may be provided with long tabs 48, adapted, when the plate 29 is fully inserted in its frame, to pass through the apertures 49 in the license plate and snap into a recess or indentation 50 formed in the front wall of the frame. It will be evident that these long tabs extending clear across the channels and through the license plate 20, form very strong supplemental locks to prevent withdrawal of the plate through the open end of the frame.

The form of the invention, illustrated in assembled form in Figure 10, comprises a frame 50, formed from the blank shown in Figure 14, and a license plate 5I shown in Figure 11. The blank of Figure 14 has a large window 52 formed therein to display the central body part 53 of the license plate 5I. Smaller openings 54, 55, 56 and 51 are cut out of the sides 58 and 59 of the frame, for the purpose of displaying the class and year indicia of the plate 5I.

'I'he side 58 of the blank is bent around the parallel creases 60, 6l and 62 to form a locking channel 63 at the upper end of the frame. Similarly the side 59 is bent around the parallel creases 64, 65 and 66 to form the lower locking channel 61. As shown in Figure 10, the left hand end of the frame 50 is open throughout its length. The other end of the frame is only partly closed by a member 68 bent around the parallel creases 69, 10, and 1l to form a channel 12 in which the right hand end of the central body part 53 of plate 5l is received (see Figure 19).

As shown in Figure 15, the channels 63 and 61 are open at their right hand ends on opposite ends of the member 68; and, are left open to permit the removal of the locking members 13 and 14 of the plate 5I. A stop tab 15 is stamped from the member 68 and extends into the channel 12 to limit the movement of the license plate 5| in the right hand direction.

The license plate 5I is recessed at each end sufiiciently to expose the edges 16 and 11 within the window 52, when the plate is fully inserted in the frame as shown in Figures 10, 13 and 19. The locking members 13 and 14 of plate 5! are divided from the central body part 53 by lines 18 and 19 of indentations or perforations, designed to weaken the plate along these lines to permit the central part to be readily separated from the locking members, as indicated in Fig ure 11.

The arrangement of co-operating locking tabs on the members 13 and 14 and the rear walls of the channels 63 and 61 are substantially the same as in the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. A single stop at the center of the right hand end of the frame 50 serves the same purpose as the stops 45 in said form. The method of assembling the plate and frame, and of securing the frame to a bracket is the same and is clearly indicated in Figures 12 and 13.

In Figure 15, the tag is illustrated as secured by its lower edge to the bracket 80. When it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the plate from its frame, the operator can insert screw driver, or similar tool under either end, 16 or 11 of the central part 53 of the plate to raise it into position where it can be pulled to tear it apart from the locking members 13 and 14. When this is done, it is obvious that the said Cir members 13 and 14 may be pulled through the v openings at the right hand end of the frame.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 16 and 17, a license plate 5l similar in all respects to the plate 5I is inserted in and locked` in a frame 59 which is the same in every respect as frame y5|); except that the right hand end of frame is closed throughout its length. In this case, when the central part 53 of plate 5l is separated from the members 13' and 14', these members can be moved laterally toward the center of the frame, and removed through the window 52. In Figures 16 and 17 the parts corresponding to similar parts in Figures 10 and 11 are designated by the same reference numeral?I primed.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that changes may be made in the form, construeM lll tion and arrangement of the several Aparts without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages; the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A license tag comprising a substantially rectangular frame having channels formed along opposite edges thereof, and a license plate slidable in one direction in said channels, said plate and channels having interlocking tabs formed thereon to lock the plate against movement in the opposite direction in said channels.

2. A license tag comprising a substantially rectangular frame having channels formed along opposite edges thereof, and a license plate slidable in one direction in said channels, said plate and channels having interlocking tabs formed thereonto lock the plate against movement in the opposite direction in said channels, and said channels having stops engageable with said plate to limit the movement of the plate in the first named direction.

3. A license tag comprising a plate holder shaped as a substantially rectangular frame having channels extending along opposite edges thereof, the rear walls of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front walls thereof being provided with cut-out portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop in one of said channels, and a license plate slidable into said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, said channels and plate being provided with co-operating means to prevent withdrawal of the plate from said channel, after the plate has made contact with said stop.

4. A license tag comprising a plate holder shaped as a substantially rectangular'framel having vchannels extending along opposite edges` thereof, the rear walls of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front walls thereof being provided with cut-out portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop in one of y said channels, and a license plate slidable into said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, said channels and plate being provided with co-operating means to prevent withdrawal of the plate from said channels, after the plate has made contact with said stop, the opposite edges of said plate being exposed in two of said cut-out portions to facilitate breaking of the plate between said portions.

5. A license tag comprising a plate holder shaped as a substantially rectangular frame having channels extending along opposite edges thereof, the rear walls of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front Walls thereof being provided with cut-out portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop in one of said channels, and license-plate slidable in said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, said channels and plate being provided with co-operating means toV prevent withdrawal of the plate from said channel after the plate has made contact with said stop, said plate being weakened across that part extending between opposite cut-out portions to facilitate breaking thereof at said part, the opposite edges of said part being exposed to give access thereto and to permit withdrawal of the brokenV parts from said channels.

6. A license plate comprising a frame having a substantially rectangular display window and having channels extending along opposite edges thereof, the rear walls of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front walls being provided with cut-out portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop at one end of said frame, a license plate slidable in said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, said plate being recessed to expose edges adjacent the opposite ends of said window and being weakened along lines located within said window and parallel to the inner edges ofr the opposite sides thereof, said plate and channels having co-operating members for-locking the plate in said frame after movenient into contact with said stop.

'7. A license tag comprising a frame having a substantially rectangular display window and having channels on opposite sides of said window, said channels and plate having co-operating means for locking the plate inv a predetermined display position in said frame, the exposed part of said plate being weakened along lines adjacent opposite sides of said window and having end edges located within said window adjacent opposite ends thereof.

8. A license tag comprising a frame having a substantially rectangular display window, a license plate, means for locking said plate to said frame, said plate having part thereof exposed in said window and weakened along lines adjacent opposite sides of said window and also having end edges located within said window adjacent opposite ends thereof, said locking means being releasable only by separation of said part from the remainder of said plate.

9. A license tag comprising a substantially rectangular frame having channels formed along opposite edges thereof, and a license plate slidable in one direction in said channels, said plate and one of said channels having interlocking tabs formed thereon to lock the plate against movement in the opposite direction in said channels.

10. A license tag comprising a substantially rectangular frame having channels formed along opposite edges thereof, and a license plate slidable in one direction in said channels, said plate and one of said channels having interlocking tabs formed thereon to lock the plate against movement in the opposite direction in said channels, and one of said channels having a stop engageable with said plate to limit the movement of the plate in the first named direction.

11. A license tag comprising a plate holder shaped as a substantially rectangular frame having channels extending alongV opposite edges thereof, the rear wall of one of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front wall of said channel being provided with cutout portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop in one of said channels, and a license plate slidable into said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, one of said channels and said plate being provided with co-operating means to prevent withdrawal of the plate from said channels, after the plate has made contact with said stop.

l2. A license tag comprising a plate holder Shaped as a substantially rectangular frame having channels extending along opposite edges thereof, the rear wall of one of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front wall of said channel being provided with cutout portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop in one of said channels, and a license plate slidable into'said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, one of said channelsyand plate being provided with co-operating means to prevent withdrawal of the plate from said channels, after the plate has made contact with said stop, the front wall of the other channel being also provided with cut-out portions, the opposite edges of said plate being exposed in cut-out portions on the opposite front walls to facilitate breaking of the plate between said portions.

l3. A license tag comprising a plate holder shaped as a substantially rectangular frame having channels extending along opposite edges thereof, the rear wall of one of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front wall of said channel being provided with cutout portions directly in front of said apertures, a sto-p in one of said channels, and license plate slidable in said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, one of said channels and said plate being provided with co-operating means to prevent withdrawal of the plate from said channel after the plate has made contact with said stop, the front wall of the other channel being also provided with cut-out portions, said plate being weakened across that part extending between opposite cut-out portions to facilitate breaking thereof at said part, the opposite edges of said part being exposed to give access thereto and to permit withdrawal of the broken parts from said channels.

14. A license plate comprising a frame having a substantially rectangular display Window and having channels extending along opposite edges thereof, the rear Wall of one of said channels having bolt receiving apertures and the front wall of said channel being provided with cut-out portions directly in front of said apertures, a stop at one end of said frame, a license plate slidable in said channels toward said stop to cover said apertures, said plate being recessed to expose edges adjacent the opposite ends of said window and being weakened along lines located within said window and parallel to the inner edges of the opposite sides thereof, said plate and one of said channels having co-operating members for locking the plate in said frame after movement into contact with said stop.

l5. A license tag comprising a frame having a substantially rectangular display window and having channels on opposite sides of said window, one of said channels and said plate having co-operating means for locking the plate in a predetermined display position in said frame, the exposed part of said plate being weakened along lines adjacent opposite sides of said window and having end edges located within said Window adjacent opposite ends thereof.

CHARLES L. FOR'IINBERRY. 

